Northern Ireland at a crossroads (with Professor Jonathan Tonge)

The Ballot Box: Elections Around the World

On 5th May Northern Ireland elected a new Assembly in a momentous contest which saw Sinn Féin become the largest party for the first time and the hardline unionist DUP loose a significant share of the votes. The elections come at a turbulent moment for Northern Ireland, with breakdowns in power-sharing and the fallout form Brexit. We're joined by Professor Jonathan Tonge from the University of Liverpool, who takes us through the runners and riders and what all this means for Northern Ireland's future. Before that, we attempt to explain some of the region's history and its complex institutional design.

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* The Government of Ireland Act was actually passed in 1920, not 1921 as stated in the episode.